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UPS, FedEx, Airborne Express, USPS - bad guys.

I recently was supposed to have some leopard geckos shippd but ups opeand the package. I never new shipping geckos wasnt aloud . since every time ive got some shppied to me they came ups I dont know if you guys already talked about this but whats there terms for opeaning and searching packages? i meen is it just when the packing guy has a hunch and suspects something is up. can they right away tare opean a package do they have to get the senders permission? or can you drop off a package just to have it riped opean and have the geckos stuck in limbo some place on a truck or wearhouse. usps riped opean a package conating a incubator that i had sent out. they thought there where tarantulas in there . i bet they felt like idiots when it was just a incubator.
 
They can open packages at any point in transit. You are also correct they could in theory open them say mid way through shipment, however that is highly unlikely. Generally they will either open or refuse the package when its dropped off, or tear into it later when they get a minute.

Mickey Hinkle
The Lizard King Reptiles
 
Maybe not all the stations but I would bet the most important ones have a scanning device (like in the airports) to check the contents of a "suspicious" package without getting into the trouble of opening it.

Packages which are not very well taped or labeled, or those where recycled boxes have been used, are the ones targeted first. This was posted sometime ago when speaking about the new security measures.

Kindly.
 
come to think of it , the incubator was shipped in a older box. again i dont know if this was answerd already but can you get in legal trouble for shipping lizards ups with out the proper paper work.
 
again i dont know if this was answerd already but can you get in legal trouble for shipping lizards ups with out the proper paper work.
Click to expand...

In reality I think you are violating the company policies. It is doubtful you will get in legal trouble because of violating the Laey Act if you were shipping leopard geckos without disclosing the species in the label of the package. You will probably have to run into a Fish and Wildlife officer having a bad day! Besides even if UPS will not ship them shipping lizards and baby caimans (under certain size) with the USPS is allowed.
 
I will be contacting fedex as soon as I get the key to my mailbox at our new place. If they allow me to ship snakes, I will be calling my UPS rep who loves us and see how much he loves us :)

Meanwhile, I got a call today from DHL/airborne. I used to be an airborne customer until the thread I think started by Ken Foose or Elite (sorry, cannot remember) where they were starting to stop live animal shipments. Well, a DHL rep left a message saying how they miss us and have just "changed their policies to accomodate our needs" and to please call them. I will be calling them tomorrow and see exactly what that means (snakes?).

I'll let everyone know what they say.

Dana
 
Well, this certainly would be good news to hear that Airborne/DHL might be on our side as well. Please let us know as soon as you find out something, Dana. I would feel MUCH better with more options for shipping.

Sometimes if one company has you over the barrel, it gives you absolutely no leverage for negotiations if problems crop up. And we all know that Murphy's Law is looking over our shoulders on this.

Thanks.
 
process started

Well, I've been sick with sinus problems, but sat here and just completed setting up an account online. Next thing will be to start the phone calls tomorrow and get the ball rolling. Glad to see others doing the same thing and will use advice given and post here as to progress made.

Mickey, just a quick word to say how glad I am to see you back. Hope all is well up your way. Waiting to see something in the website department soon. Guess I'll have to call you one of these days soon and see what you've got happening. Sick now that we didn't jump on the Nigerian Red Uros a couple of years ago when you had them. Could have sold a bunch last weekend in Ft. Smith, Ark. Guess that's the "price we pay" for hesitating.

Rich, glad to see you on the front line on this issue.

David Jobes
Double "D" Reptiles
Stigler, OK
 
Duh!

Guess I could have been more clear and stated that I started the process by setting up a FedEx account. After the talk about Airborne, I should have been more clear.

David Jobes
Double "D" Reptiles
Stigler, OK
 
I have been charged over double what they said when I called in by Airborne and UPS before. Also, they opened one of my packages yesterday, saying they had reason to be suspicious. I guess they are allowed to do that? But I don't know what their reason for suspicion was. The didn't charge me with mail fraud, but did refuse to give me a refund.

How do I get a permit or whatever for shipping reptiles with UPS?

Also, I know a site that I am positive would support and advertise this. They would do it not only because everyone there are very dedicated to the herping community, but the site is trying to grow larger and even faced shutting down not long ago. Webslave, please email me at [email protected] and I will tell you who to contact if you want to. I just thought since you might consider them a competing site (I don't know if you do) that fauna might not want the address posted.

Thanks.
 
Hey Rich,

I am more than willing to help you promote this through fieldherpers.com

I just signed up for a fed-ex account. Perhaps we should formulate a form letter that every single one of us uses to contact shippers with. The letter could include why we want to ship and maybe even a centalized page on the web for more information. Say Fed-ex recieves 1000 letters that are identical, all signed by a different shipper? The advantage would be that since everyone is sending the same letter, nobody has to worry about someone slipping up or inadvertantly compromising our position as a group, by writing something that could be viewed in a bad light.
 
Airborne - Bermuda triangle in the Carolinas

I shipped out some Nigerian Uros next day 10:30am it arrived there 3rd day after dark. And subsequently the fattest healthiest one of the bunch ended up dying. None of them were sickly by the way. Airborne seems to be a coin toss. Either it gets there on time or who knows what happens. If you check their business model you have a bunch of underpaid unscrupulous kids that still
have zits, and get lost in their own neighborhood. I have seen personally seen wandering around trying to find an address with the flashers on their small Airborne pickup with the camper shell type cover on the back. (while the packages are sitting in the 117 degrees outside temp. Here in Las Vegas. I have seen temp guns shot inside a delivery truck hitting over 160 degrees here in the summer) At least when I see UPS and Fedex the drivers never have a bewildered confused look or wander around like a lost dog. Just my personal observations.
 
Chris - this issue is much more important that anything to do with competition between websites. The more people who get the word the better. I have just mailed out a form letter to ALL registered users of FaunaClassifieds.com to get as many people as possible involved in this.

Spread the word and lets get people INVOLVED!

If anyone wants to take a stab at contacting JeffB on kingsnake, please do so. I know for a fact that he will not respond to my own emails.
 
I usually use airborne, and have been quite happy with them, however their rates seem to be a little silly at times. My customers have paid over $60 for shipping on a couple baby boas. I have never had them refuse a shipment. The worst that has ever happened is I have unknowingly shipped to areas they do not offer next day. Everything worked out, and that was my fault for not checking first. This year I will ship approx 35 or more packages ( 35x$50 ea shipment= $1750)that is alot of cash for a
guy like me that is just a hobbiest. I hate to think what the big boys spend on shipping in a year.Craig Kade
 
In response to Webslaves group email...

In response to the recent group email received regarding shipping matters. We ship "legally" through both Delta & Fed Ex (with a written contract) however even with these measures we still get boxes searched by employees that are not familiar with us & have to go through the hassel of providing our documentation that we are allowed to ship harmless reptiles with them. We would definately support any joint effort to make shipping easier, safer, legal & less stressful for the entire herp community. We only ship about 5-10 live animals a week & are not considered "volume shippers" since we don't do any supplies, but I agree that numbers will speak in terms of profits for them and we should all make a stand together.

Keep up the hardwork Webslave & keep us all posted so that we can make this work for everyone!

Thanks-
BK Baker
The Creature Company
 
usps

I had two lizards shipped through usps and they got lost for TWO weeks, It was lucky that the previous owner took great care of them because they were alive. Other reps delivered have been done through sneaky means. UPS boxes not labelled and what not.
 
WebSlave said:
Chris - this issue is much more important that anything to do with competition between websites. The more people who get the word the better. I have just mailed out a form letter to ALL registered users of FaunaClassifieds.com to get as many people as possible involved in this.

Spread the word and lets get people INVOLVED!

If anyone wants to take a stab at contacting JeffB on kingsnake, please do so. I know for a fact that he will not respond to my own emails.
Click to expand...

I am not saying this is competition. I have never considered you as such (not out of arrogance or indifference, but out of the fact that we cater to different types of people).

I think that some sort of form letter would be VITAL to making this work. All we need is someone saying they want to shp venomous, or that they will "continue to ship against company policy,regardless of what they decide" and our credibilty will faulter.

As you know, emotions can run high, and cause people to type messages that could be inferred to be something entirely different when read by a third party. Therefore I believe it in our best interst to make sure the bases are covered.
 
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